Northeast Open Streets event will include a wide range of pedal and play activities

July 15, 2013 (MINNEAPOLIS) A series of four Open Streets Minneapolis events this summer continues with the second event on Central Avenue Northeast on Sunday, July 28. This event—the first ever Open Streets event in Northeast Minneapolis—will create a safe, car-free environment on one of Minneapolis’ most iconic streets to allow people to play, be physically active and take part in a wide range of related activities.

Open Streets Minneapolis will take place on Sunday, July 28 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Central Avenue Northeast between 18 ½th Avenue and 26th Avenue. The free event, which is open to everyone, was organized to give people the opportunity to enjoy biking, walking, skating, playing and using wheelchairs on their neighborhood street without the presence of motorized traffic. For a complete listing of all events and their times and locations, go to www.openstreetsmpls.com.

In addition to allowing families and neighbors to come together to mingle, have fun and shop in a safe, car-free environment, there will be numerous activities for children and families including activities from Playworks, Ultimate Playgrounds, Play From Scratch, and others. The activities are part of Play Streets, a national initiative designed to offer a high-impact approach to increasing physical activity by temporarily turning a street into a play area. Additionally, Eastside Food Co-op and Northeast Minneapolis Arts Association (NEMAA) are partnered with the event to provide complementary activities for people of all ages.

“We are excited to expand Open Streets Minneapolis to Northeast Central Avenue after our first event on South Lyndale Avenue kicked off the season last month,” said Colin Harris, one of the coordinators for the event.

This year there will be a total of four Open Streets Minneapolis events on different dates throughout the summer, including upcoming events on Central Avenue (July 28), Minnehaha Avenue (August 11) and Lowry Avenue North as part of Harvest Fest (September 21). The events are being held thanks to The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) and Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA), which works with the private sector and its Honorary Chair First Lady Michelle Obama to create Play Streets. Play Streets give neighborhood residents an opportunity to use their streets as places where they can be physically active and take pride in their community.

Open Streets Minneapolis is organized and hosted by the Minneapolis Bicycle Coalition, and is partnered this year with the City of Minneapolis. Its 2013 sponsors include Partnership for a Healthier America, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, Hennepin County Medical Center, Minnesota Public Radio – 89.3 The Current, and Zeus Jones. Local partners include NEMAA, Eastside Food Co-op, Lions Club of NE Minneapolis, NE Minneapolis Online and the Northeaster.